Summary

Death by Degrees offers an engaging blend of combat, stealth, and narrative depth, starring the iconic Nina Williams. Its unique combat system and rich storyline provide a distinct experience within the action-adventure genre.

Release Year: 2005
Genres: Adventure, Fighting
Platforms: PlayStation 2
Developers: Namco
Publishers: Namco

Introduction

Death by Degrees is a unique departure from the Tekken series, focusing on the story of Nina Williams as a CIA operative uncovering a global conspiracy. It combines elements of stealth, action, and intricate storytelling in a compelling solo adventure.

Synopsis

“Death by Degrees” is an action-adventure game released in 2005, developed by Namco. It is a spin-off from the Tekken series of fighting games. The game centers around the character Nina Williams, a world-renowned assassin.

The game begins with Nina Williams on board a cruise ship, participating in a martial arts tournament. She defeats all the male opponents, becoming the champion with her high strong kicks and special lethal secret moves. However, her victory is short-lived. While relaxing in the ship’s swimming pool, she has to fight against some bodyguards. After this encounter, she is taken prisoner in her room.

This marks the beginning of her adventure. Nina has to explore the ship, confront many male guards and bosses during the plot (including her sister Anna), and try to discover many pieces of information, secret areas, control rooms, and so on, to stop the evil plans of a secret criminal organization.

The plot of the game is divided into three parts2:

On the ship
In an ancient fortress, which serves as a prison
Back on the ship
Nina Williams has been hired by the CIA and MI6 to join a team that is attempting to infiltrate “Kometa,” a notorious criminal organization. The team’s strategy involves gaining access to the target through a fighting tournament being held on the “Amphitrite,” a luxury cruise ship owned and operated by Kometa.

A leaked video on the Internet showed a Kometa ship exploding within the Bermuda Triangle, and it is feared that they are working on some kind of superweapon in the aftermath of the fall of the Soviet Union. Nina’s official cover involves infiltration as a competitor in the tournament. However, Nina is also the team’s “sweeper”; should her partners fail, she must finish the job.

The game is fully controlled by the analog sticks. The left analog stick is touch-sensitive; through various degrees of holding, tapping or pressing along with other buttons allows the player character Nina Williams to walk, run or evade. The right analog stick is used for offensive moves.

The game’s most remarkable feature is the ability to allow Nina to use her martial arts skills to break the bones of her enemies through the use of carefully aimed attacks. These attacks do more damage to the enemy and show the player the damage being inflicted on the opponent’s skeletal structure.

Once the game is completed, “Anna Mode” will be unlocked, offering the player the ability to play as Nina’s younger sibling and rival, Anna Williams. Various outfits can be unlocked throughout the game, which include a bikini, cocktail dress, purple jumpsuit, black and silver stealth suit.

“Death by Degrees” is a thrilling action-adventure game that takes players on a suspenseful journey filled with intrigue, danger, and martial arts action. With its unique gameplay mechanics and compelling storyline, it offers a unique gaming experience that fans of the Tekken series and newcomers alike can enjoy.

Characters

The game features Nina Williams as the protagonist, with appearances from other Tekken characters and a new cast of allies and adversaries unique to Death by Degrees. Each character brings their own motivations and skills into the narrative.

Gameplay

Featuring an intuitive 360-degree combat system, players control Nina with unprecedented precision. The game includes a variety of weapons, such as handguns, sniper rifles, swords, and tonfas. The Critical Strike system allows for targeted attacks on enemy organs and bones, adding a layer of strategy to combat.

Conclusion

Despite its mixed reception, Death by Degrees stands as a bold experiment in the action-adventure genre, showcasing Nina Williams in a new light. It remains a noteworthy title for fans of the Tekken series and action-adventure enthusiasts alike.